PNG Hunters v Ipswich Jets
National Football Stadium on Saturday, July 30 – 4pm
PNG Hunters
1. Oti Tony 2. Butler Morris 3. Justin Olam 4. Thompson Teteh 5. Adex Wera 6. Ase Boas 7. Wartovo Puara 8. Enock Maki 9. Warren Glare 10. Esau Siune 11. Edward Goma 12. Adam Korave (c) 13. Brandy Peter 14. Gahuna Silas 15. Ishamel Baikawa 16. Benjamin Hetra 17. Watson Boas 18. Henry Noki 19. Tuvi Lepan 20. Philimon Kimisive
Coach: Michael Marum
Ipswich Jets
1. Wesley Conlon 5. Richard Pandia 3. Ben White 4. Nemani Valekapa 18. Michael Purcell 6. Haydan Lipp 7. Dane Phillips (c) 8. David Fa’alogo 9. Mikaere Beattie 16. William McConnachie 11. Samuel Martin 21. Jesse Roberts 22. Tyson Lofipo 12. Liam Capewell 13. Fakahoko Teutau 17. Sebastian Pandia 19. Peter Whittaker
Coach: Ben Walker and Shane Walker
LAST TIME THEY PLAYED:
IPSWICH JETS 30(Richard Pandia 2, Carlin Anderson, Nathaniel Neale, Nemani Suguturaga tries; Carlin Anderson 5 goals) def PNG HUNTERS 12 (Thompson Tetah, Watson Boas tries; Noel Zeming 2 goals) at North Ipswich Reserve.
Head to Head: PNG Hunters 3 IPSWICH Jets 3.
ROUND 21
The Jets have played the Hunters twice in PNG for two losses in 2014 and 2015.
PNG HUNTERS 40 (Israel Eliab 2, Stargroth Amean, Adex Wera, Kato Ottio, Lawrence Tu’u, Brandy Peter tries; Noel Zeming 5, Israel Eliab goals) def IPSWICH JETS 28 (Landon Hayes 2, Marmin Barba, Kurt Capewell, Billy McConnachie tries; Carlin Anderson 3, Marmin Barba goals) at Kalabond Oval, Kokopo.
PNG HUNTERS 40 (Jason Tali 3, Garry Lo, Adex Wera, Wartovo Puara, Willie Minoga tries; Noel Zemming 5, Israel Eliab goals) defIPSWICH JETS 22 (Brendon Marshall 2, Marmin Barba 2 tries; Marmin Barba 3 goals) at Kalabond Oval, Kokopo.
The Hunters have not lost a game at home this year winning eight from eight. The Jets have now won four from nine away from home this year.
The Jets need to win and it’s not going to be easy in PNG. The Hunters have played 32 games at home, winning 30 including their last 24
The Hunters are currently in third place with 12 wins from 18 games. While the Jets are in 8th place with nine wins from 19 games.
The Hunters have scored 423 points this season compared to the Jets 460.
In defence the Hunters have let in 317 points while the Jets have 459. That’s a sizable advantage to the Hunters in defence.
The Hunters are coming off a big win over the Tigers while the Jets are coming off a loss to the Bears.
HUNTERS
The Hunters have built an impressive record at home and will be looking forward to keeping it going when they play the Jets this week.
The Hunters’ play is based on big men off-loading and then little backs getting involved on the back of that- not dis-similar to the Jets.
If the Hunters get momentum they’re hard to stop. In the past the Jets have allowed them to get out to big starts and in PNG it’s been too hard to peg it back. Both times the Jets have played in PNG they’ve scored enough points to win the game.
Hunters’ danger man and normal hooker Wartovo Puara played half against the Tigers.
The Jets won’t need too much reminding about Wartovo Puara who is a smart and elusive dummy half who brings the same qualities to the halves. The Jets contained him well last time but they will need to be on high alert for the little number 7 or 9.
Thompson Teteh is a danger for the Jets on the right hand side. Teteh loves to the run the ball.
In a losing side against the Jets in round 12 he made 14 runs for 164 meters.
Against the Tigers the Hunters made a huge eight line breaks and the Hunters had a field day with five of their seven backs making over 100 meters.
JETS
The Jets had won five games in a row; then ran head long into a Bears outfit that ended that run.
The Jets’ first ten minutes was too much to overcome. They allowed three tries in the first 10 minutes then three more in the ten minutes before and after half time.
When the Jets looked like getting back into the game at 18-10 they fell away again.
The Jets made 56 more tackles than the Bears. Yet missed four fewer tackles.
Michael Purcell and Richard Pandia were excellent.
Purcell has now scored 11 tries from 11 games but his game awareness is his best attribute, Purcell reads the game very well knowing when to come in and attack the ball and when to stay out and wait for Nemani to set him free.
Purcell contributed five tackle breaks, 1 line break, and two tries.
Pandia has been excellent this year; against the Bears he made 15 runs, 128 meters and 10 tackle breaks.
This week should see Nat Neale return to the Jets side. Neale was missed against the Bears were his defence would have contributed to the poor start in defence never happening.
The Jets first three tries were all scored in their middle third; the Jets this year have had a strong middle third in defence with 18 tries or 25% scored through there.
This is a must win game for the Jets; they have the bye next week then two home games. The Jets best win of the year was against the Hunters and they need to replicate that again this week.